Shumpert provides spark off bench
CLEVELAND — For the entire first half Monday, in the second game in the best-ofseven series against the Indiana Pacers, Iman Shumpert was stuck playing the same role as he did for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday in Game 1: cheerleader.
It looked as if coach Tyronn Lue had a specific rotation for this matchup and it didn't include Shumpert. Then it changed when J.R. Smith hobbled off the court at the end of the first half because of a hamstring injury.
"I think I was a little overly excited to be out there and I picked up a foul right away," Shumpert said. "It's a playoff game, it's high energy. It's my type of game."
Shumpert found himself at the center of Cleveland's shortlived defensive revival, and the Cavaliers find themselves up 2-0 heading into Game 3 on Thursday night at Indiana.
"Shump was unbelievable," Lue said. "Just staying ready, being professional. He came in and made it tough on Paul George. We held Paul George to four points in that third quarter where our defense was really good. Shump sparked that, made a couple shots for us also. His tenacity, it was really good for us. We needed that spark."
Shumpert pestered the Pacers' star forward at times and welcomed the challenge, even forcing a jump ball midway through the quarter that fired up the crowd. The Cavs trapped George repeatedly. It was similar to the late fourth-quarter plan in Game 1, daring another Pacer to make a play.
With George contained, the Pacers scored just 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting during the third period.
"(George) had 18 the first half," Lue said. "When he shoots that thing he's going to make it every single time. That third quarter we were able to turn our defense up, trapping him, get the ball out of his hands, scrambling, rotating. It was a good defensive performance in that third quarter."
Along with his defense on George, Shumpert also made a three-pointer in front of the Indiana bench to cap a 7-0 run that pushed the Cavs' lead to 12 less than two minutes into the second half.
"Saw a true professional," LeBron James said of Shumpert. "He just gave us a lot of energy. He's a true professional and definitely a great way to stay ready and be ready for the moment and he was there."